Reclining chair



N. N. BROWN RECLINING CHAIR Oct. 11, 1932.

Filed May 4, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet Sn newton WIMMQUMM 1 WW L WQLL PatentedOct. 11, 1932 unirno STATES PATENT oFFicu NEWTON N. BROWN, OF RAGINE,WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR TO GOLD MEDAL FOLDING FURNITURE COMPANY, OF,IRAO'INE, WISCONSIN, A CORPORATION OF WISCONSIN RECLINING GHAIRApplication filed May 4, 1929. Serial No. 360,338.

This invention relates to foldable chairs and more particularly to thoseof the reclining type.

Foldable reclining chairs are well known in the art. In one generallyknown type the frame work is made up of wooden bars pivoted to eachother, certain of the bars being provided with slotsfor receiving a rungcarried by certain other bars which control the angle of inclinationofthe back of the chair. In this type, fabric such as canvas is looselyhung between upper and lower rungs of the frame so as to constituteboththe back and the seat of the chair.

' than those heretofore devised.

lit-further object is to provide a foldable chair with a foot rest soconstructed as to fold up compactly with the remainder of the chair toprotect the fabric thereof.

Other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of theconstruction, ar-

7 rangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter morefully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims,reference being had to vthe accompanying' drawings forminga part of thisspecification, and in which:

Figural is a vertical cross sectional view of a foldable reclining chairembodying the principles of the present invention, the cross sectionbeing taken lengthwise thereof;

Figure 2 is a plan view of-the chair of Figure 1 with a portion of thefabric cover cut away; and

Figure 3is a side view of the chair in folded position, certain of'theside pieces being partly cut away to better show the construction. v

As shown in the drawings, the frame structure is. made up of sidesections and transversely extending rungs for connecting the I sidesections together and for maintaining complementarymembers thereof inthe same angular positions with respect to other members. This framework is preferably made of air dried northernhard wood although the useof other material is contemplated.

The essential parts of each side section are a long bar 1 adapted torest on the ground Y to form a front leg of the chair and a support forthe back, a shorter bar 2 pivoted on a bolt or rivet 3 near the lowerend of the bar 1. and extending rearwardly, and downwardly therefrom toform arear leg of the chair, a spacing link 4 pivoted at -5 to the bar 1slightly above its midpoint and a forwardly projecting rail '6 with itssupporting leg 7. The rail 6 forms a support for a combined seat andfoot rest. This rail is pivotallywconnected to the bar 1 by the bolt 3and is also pivotally connected to the supporting leg 7.

In addition to these parts, each-side section is also preferablyprovidedwith an arm rest 8 and a link 9, the rear end of the arm restbeing pivoted to the link 4: near its upper end asshownat 11 and theforward portion being pivoted at 12 to the link 9 which is in turnpivotally -mounted on the bolt 3.

' In the construction shown, the two side sections are connected by fivetransversely extending circular rungs. Two of these rungs, designated at=13 and 14;, connect'the main side bars 1 togethenbeing disposedat theupper and lower ends thereof. Another rung 15 connects the forward endsof the side rails 6. As shown at 16, another rung connects the lowerends of the pivoted legs 7, whil-ethe rung 17 connects the lower ends ofthe links 4:. The'rung 17 is'desig'ned to engage spaced slots 18 in therearwardlyextending legs 2 to cause the links 4; to hold the .bars 1 invarious reclining positions, this construction being similar to thatofwell known chairs now on the'market.

The rearwardly extending legs 2 are. also connected together, the meansfor this purpose preferably consisting of a transversely extending piece21 and crossed braces 23.

The chair is provided with a flexible .cover 23 of fabric, such ascanvas, this cover forming both the seat and the back of the chair.Cushions may be incorporated in this fabric to form a comfortable seatand head rest as shown. An unusual feature of the construction residesin the manner in which the flexible cover is secured to the frame work.As

best shown in Figure l, the cover is provid-- ed with loops 24 and 25 atits ends, these 7 loops surrounding the rungs 13 and 15 and constitutingthe only means for securing the cover to the frame. The fabric is ofsuch a length that it hangs loosely between these two rungs but issupported by a novel construction of the frame work which will now bedescribed. j

' As has been previously stated the side'rails 6 constitute a supportfor 'a combined seat and foot rest. In addition to the rung 15'mentioned above, these rails are secured together by transverselyextending bars 'or cross pieces 26, 27 and 28 which are nailed causeofthe'oifsetting relation ofthe piece 28 with respect to the pieces 26and 'A spacer 31 may be placed above the cross piece 27 to increase theextent of the bowing, if desired. "It will readily be seen that thesecross piecesand slats constitute a combined seat and foot rest andprevent the occurren'c'e of excessive strains on the cover 23'. V

For supporting the back upper portion .of the body of anoccupaint of thechair and the portion of the cover, fabric strips32 and 33 are provided,these strips extending transversely of the sidebars 1 and being nailedor otherwise secured thereto.

The cover is thus adequately supported at all times so that there is notendency for it to stretch out of shape or tear at itsendsw i Infoldingthe chair'the'parts are swung inthe direction of the arrows shownin'Figure 1, the links f folding up into'the' plane of the side bars 1-and in so doing also bringing the a-rm'rests 8 and links 9 into theplane of the bars'l. The rear legs 2 and side rails 6 may thenbe-fswungupwardly, the -legs '2 swinginginto the plane of the side bars1, while the slats 23 'carriedby the side rails engage the cover andholdit firmly in place ainst' the back supporting strips 32'and 33. V

T li'e supporting'legs 7 are folded intothe plane of the rails 6 so thatthe chair-is then in the compact position shown in and may be'easilyhandled. a V

A unique advantage 0f he present construction results from the fact thatthe rails *6 and slats 28 may be folded up against the Figure 3 bars 1even though the remainder of the chair is not folded. In this positionthe chair will stand by itself, but the cushions of the chair areprotected against rain or the like, the canvas portion of the covercompletelyenclosing them.

' While only one embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed herein,

it is obvious that many changes may be made in'thearrangementfandconstruction of the chair without departing from thespirit of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

The invention claimed is: 4 1. A reclining chair comprising a backincluding side bars, and supporting means between the side barspositioned to confine the upper portion of the body ofan occupant of thechair substantially within the plane defined by said side bars;rearwardly extending legs secured'to said bars, a unitary seat and footrest pivoted. intermediate its ends to said sidebars, the inner end ofsaidunitary element 1 extending rearwardly and free of support beyondthe plane of theback as .defined by saidside bars, said-unitary seat andfoot rest providing a broad and, substantially-rigid supporting surfacefor the occupant of the chair, means for maintaining the 'seat and-footrest in operative position with respect tofthe back, and a flexiblecoversecured to said bars at a point a substantial "distance above thepoint of connection between jthe' seat and foot rest unit and saidsidebars, said cover extending downwardly onto said seat and thenceoutwardly in superposed relation to theseat, said seat serving tosupport the juxtaposed portions of said cover, said flexible-cover beingslack whereby when the chair is occupied that portion of the seatextending rearwardly of the side bars functions-to support that portionof the cover and the body of the occupant which due to said slackness ofthe cover extend rearwardly beyond the plane of said side bars betweensaidsupporting means and the seat. 2. A reclining chair comprising sidebars,

rearwardly extending legs adjustably secured thereto,la unitary seat andfoot rest pivoted intermediate its ends tosaid side bars, the

inner end of said unitary element extending rearwardly free ofsupportbeyond the plane defined by said sidebars, said unitary seat and footrest comprising side rails andend bars, and "a plurality of upwardlybowed slats secured'at their ends to the'end bars of said unit wherebyto provide a continuous and substantiallyrigid supporting'surface forthe occupant of the chair, means for maintaining -theside-baralegs'andseat in operative'position, and a flexiblecover secured to said sldebars-at a point a substantial distance above the point of connectionbetween the. seat and foot rest unit and said side bars, said coverextending downwardly onto said seat and thence outwardly in superposedrelation to the seat, said seat serving to support the juxtaposedportions of said cover, a trans verse support for said cover secured tothe said side bars intermediate the point of connectionof the cover tosaid bars and the seat to said bars, said flexible cover being slackwhereby when the chair is occupied that portion of the seat extendingrearwardly of the side bars functions to support that portion of thecover and the body of the occupant which due to said slackness of thecover extend rearwardly beyond the plane of said side bars between theseat and said transverse support.

3. A reclining chair comprising a back including side bars, andsupporting means between the side bars positioned to confine the upperportion of the body of an occupant of the chair substantially within theplane defined by said side bars; rearwardly extending legs secured tothe side bars, means for holding said legs in operative position, aunitary seat and foot rest pivoted intermediate its ends to said sidebars, the inner end of said unitary element extending rearwardly andfree of support beyond the plane of the back as defined by said sidebars, said unitary seat and foot rest comprising side rails, front, rearand intermediate cross pieces connecting the side rails, and a pluralityof longitudinally extending slats secured adjacent the forward and rearends thereof to the front and rear cross pieces respectively, andpassing over the intermediate cross piece, said rear cross piece lyingsubstantially below the level of the intermediate cross piece whereby toprovide a broad and substantially rigid supporting surface for theoccupant of the chair having a substantial downward inclination from theintermediate support rearwardly to the projecting free end of the seat,means for maintaining the seat and foot rest in operative position withrespect to the back, and a flexible cover secured to said bars at apoint a substantial distance above the point of connection between theseat and foot rest unit and said bars, said cover extending downwardlyonto said seat and thence outwardly in superposed relation to the seat,said seat serving to support the juxtaposed portions of said cover, saidflexible cover being slack whereby when the chair is occupied thatportion of the seat extending rearwardly of the side bars functions tosupport that portion of the cover and the body of the occupant which,due to said slackness of the cover, extend rearwardly beyond the planeof said side bars between said supporting means and the seat.

In witness whereof, I hereto affix'my signature.

NEWTON N. BROWN.

' CERTIFICATE or CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,882,176. October 11, 1932.

NEWTON N. BROWN.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2,line 39, strike out the word "back" and insert the same before "portion"in line 41; page 3, line 47, claim 3, before "bars" insert the word"side and that the said Letters Patent should be read with thesecorrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the casein the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 29th day of November, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

